Dodge City times., 1887-12-29
HISTORIC ENEMIES.

Extract from Speech by Rev. DIR. Leon
ard. of Ohio. Delivered at the Chicago
Party Conference.
History demonstrates clearly that
every movement of great magnitude,
whether religious or political, creates
its own instrument of successful opera
ton. The philosophy of this may be
readily discovered. Old and effete or
CARNATIONS can not be readily en-
ployed in the promotion of new move
ments of reformatory character.
Jesus of Nazareth could not use the old
Jewish church to spread His gospel
throughout the world. Martin Luther
could not use the Roman church to re-
form the abuses that had fastened upon
that organization. John Knox could
not use the State church in Scotland
for the purpose of accomplishing re-
forms that were imperatively demand
ed, and John Wesley could not use the
Church of England as an agent to bring
about a revival of spiritual religion.
Nor could the anti-slavery reformers
use either the Democratic or Whig
parties as instruments for the over
throw of slavery. No more can Pro-
hibitionists use either of the old parties
of to-day for the overthrow of the
traffic in intoxicating liquors. 1t is
impossible to use an organization for
the accomplishment of reform when
the evil to be removed controls the Or
ganization itself The liquor power
now controls the Democratic and Re-
publican parties, and it is folly to sup
pose that power will smite itself ''If
Satan cast out Satan, he is divided
against himself; how shall his kingdom
stand?''
1t is impossible for either of the old
parties to draw to itself the Prohibit
tionists of the other They are his
toric enemies and their members can
not be transferred from one to the 9TH
er except in rare instances. There is a
host of Prohibitionists in the Demo-
cratic party that will not join the Re-
publican party, even for the sake of
the great principle of Prohibitionists,
and there is as great host, if not a
greater, in the Republican party, that
will not for the sake of that great prin-
ciple join the Democratic party. There
fore, with these two parties alone in
the field, Prohibitionists will remain
divided, and the liquor demon will con-
tinue to scourge our land. If, how
ever, Prohibition sentiment is strong
enough in given State to force the
submission of prohibitory Amend
ment, on the non-partisan plan, the
party machine is used to defeat it at
the polls. Witness Ohio. Michigan,
Texas and Tennessee. Where a pro-
hibitory Amendment is passed in spite
OF the party machine, the necessary
legislation for its enforcement is likely
to be feeble and quite inefficient. and
if legislation is all that could lie de-
sired enforcement is embarrassed, if
no, entirely prevented. by executive
and judicial officers who are in SYM
pathy with liquor-dealers. Witness
Maine. Kansas and Iowa.
The time has fully come when Pro-
hibitionists should cease to spend their
energies on non-partisan campaigns,
that end in the defeat of Prohibition
and give heightened lease of power
to the old whisky parties. All the
great reforms of the past point unerr-
ingly to the Prohibition party method
of warfare against the liquor crime,
avoiding as it does the weakness of
and the impractica-
bility of old party methods. Moreover,
it affords common bond of sympathy,
secures concert of action, definiteness
of purpose. and is the sure guarantee
of a resistless movement against the |
common foe.
Let the Prohibition party, then, he
thoroughly organized throughout the
Union-North. South, East and West
At the earliest possible moment. and,
with an Electoral ticket in every State.
headed by such men as will be nomina-
ted by our National Convention. we
will poll million and a half votes in |
1888.